House Set to Mark up Water Resources Bill This Week

The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee introduced the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 on May 20 and will mark up the bill on May 25. The legislation authorizes projects and activities related to the key missions of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), including developing and maintaining the nation’s waterway infrastructure and supporting effective and targeted flood protection and environmental restoration needs.

Earlier this year, the Corps released implementation guidelines in response to resiliency language NRMCA was able to have included in the 2014 law. NRMCA successfully secured language in the Water Resources & Reform Development Act of 2014  that directed the Corps to encourage the use of resilient construction techniques in all Corps projects and also secured a definition of "resilient construction techniques". NRMCA defined resilient construction techniques among other things as water resources infrastructure projects that will resist hazards brought on by major disasters and continue to serve the primary function of the water resources infrastructure project following the disaster and have the ability to recover and withstand the disruptive event. NRMCA is continuing to work with the Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations Major General Donald Jackson to ensure that the implementation guidelines released throughout the summer months through engineering guides and circulars correspond with the directive of the language passed in the WRRDA.